Chile confirms first sexually transmitted Zika virus case

Santiago, March 27 (IANS) The Chilean health ministry has confirmed the first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus in the country, the media reported on Sunday.

The 46-year-old woman was infected with the virus as she had unprotected sex with her partner, who was infected with Zika in Haiti, said the ministry on Saturday.

“This is the first case of the virus being sexually transmitted in mainland Chile, where the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the disease, does not exist,” Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as sayig.

The ministry warned against unprotected sex among people at risk as the majority of the infections caused by the Zika virus are symptom less.

“They should consider practicing safe sex or abstaining from sexual activity for at least four weeks after they return (to Chile from risk countries). In the case of pregnant women, this care should be taken during their whole gestation period,” the ministry added.